Fence-stretcher.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.-

FENCE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 190B.

v I; K. HOLLINGER.

Urn srrn ns ISAAC K. HOLLINGER, OF GREENVILLE, OHIO.

FENCE-STRETCHER.

Application filed January 9, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC K. HQLLINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greenville, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Fence-Stretcher, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to wire stretchers and more particularly to thatclass of implement especially designed for stretching woven wirefencing.

The object of the invention is to provide a wire stretcher including asupporting frame having means for attachment at one end of the fencingand provided with a train of gearing connected through the medium of achain or cable with a post or other suitable support so that byoperating the gearing the tension of the wire fabric may be regulated atwill.

A further object of the invention is to provide the operating shaftswith terminal winding heads one of which is used for rotating thegearing to take up the slack in the fencing and the other to effect thestretching operation.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devices so as to increase their utility, durability andefliciency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description,it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minordetails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wire stretcher constructed inaccordance with my invention showing the same in position on a fence.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a topplan view.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of thefigures of the drawings.

The improved wire stretcher forming the subject matter of the presentinvention includes a substantially rectangular supporting framepreferably formed of metal and comprising spaced longitudinal bars 5connected by terminal and intermediate bolts 6 and 7.

Journaled in the longitudinal side bars 5 are spaced transverse shafts 8and 9 provided with terminal Winding heads 10 and 11 Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908'.

Serial No. 410,026.

for engagement with a suitable crank or handle l2.

Secured to and mounted for rotation with the shaft 8 is a driving gear13 having an elongated pinion 14 cast or otherwise formed integraltherewith and meshing with the teeth .of a master gear 15 looselymounted on the shaft 9, there being a pinion 16 fixed to the shaft 9 andmeshing with the teeth on the driving gear 13, as shown.

Extending laterally from one side-of the master gear 15 is a hub or drum17 provided with an intermediate annular groove 18 defining spacedcircumferential shoulders 19 on which are formed spaced teeth 20 forengagem ent with the links of a chain or other flexible medium 21.

One end of the chain 21 is wrapped around the drum 17 while the oppositeend thereof is secured to a post or simi ar support 22 so that wheneither winding head is rotated the chain will engage the teeth on thedrum and thus effect the stretching o eration.

The stretcher may be emp oyed for stretching any style of fencing and byway of illustration is shown in connection with a woven wire fabricfence 23 preferably of the diagonal mesh type as shown. One end of thefencing 23 is interposed between a pair of clamping bars 24 while thesupporting frame is fastened in position on the bars 24 by means of thebolts 6 and 7.

In stretching a fence the supporting frame is placed in position withthe longitudinal bars 5 of the frame embracing the clamping bars 24 andlocked in engagement therewith by adjusting the clamping bolts 6 and 7after which one end of the chain 21 is fastened around the post 22 andthe opposite end thereof passed over the drum 17 and in en gagement withthe teeth 20. The crank 12 is then placed in position on the windinghead 10 and the latter rotated to take up the slack in the wire, thechain 21 passing over the drum 17 and consequently shortening thedistance between the clamping bars 24 and post 22, as will be readilyunderstood. After the slack is removed the stretching operation iseffected by positioning the crank 12 on the winding head 11 and rotatingsaid head. As the pinion 16 is rotated the latter will grip the teeth onthe driving gear 13 and through the medium of the pinion 14 rotate themaster gear 15, in the manner before stated.

The wire stretchers may be made in different sizes and shapes and may begalvanized,

plated or otherwise coated to protect the same against'the action of theelements.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A wire stretcher including a supporting frame,. spaced shaftsjournaled in the frame and provided with terminal winding heads, adriving gear mounted for rotation on one of the shafts and provided witha pinion, a master gear mounted for rotation on the other shaft andengaging the teeth on the pinion, a second inion mounted for rotationindependenti y of the master gear and meshing with the teeth on thedriving gear, and a connection between the master gear and a suitablesupport.

2. A stretcher including a supporting frame adapted to engage the wireto be stretched, spaced shafts journaled in said supporting frame andprovided with terminal winding heads, a driving gear secured to andmounted for rotation with one of the shafts, a pitman secured to thedriving gear a master gear loosely mounted on the other shaft andmeshing with the teeth on the pinion, a drum secured to the master gear,a pinion interposed between the drum and adjacent wall of the supportingframe and meshing with the teeth on the driving gear, said pinion beingmountedfor rotation independently of the master gear, and a flexiblemedium connecting the drum with a suitable support.

3. A wire stretcher including a supporting frame having means forengagement with one end of the wire to be stretched, spaced shaftsjournaled in the frame and provided with terminal winding heads, adriving gear secured to and mounted for rotation with one of the shafts,a pinion mounted for rotation with the driving gear, a master gearloosely mounted for rotation on the other shaft and meshing with theteeth on the pinion, a drum secured to the master gear and provided withan intermediate groove defining circumferential shoulders having teethformed thereon, a pinion mounted for rotation independently of themaster gear and meshing with the teeth on the driving gear, and a chainhaving one end thereof secured to a support and its opposite endengaging the teeth on the drum.

4. A wire stretcher including a supporting frame comprising spacedlongitudinal bars connected by transverse bolts, spaced shafts mountedfor rotation in the longitudinal bars of the frame and each providedwith an angular winding head, a master gear mounted for rotation withone of the shafts and provided with a pinion extending the entire widthof the frame, a master gear loosely mounted for rotation on the othershaft and meshing with the teeth on the pinion, a drum secured to themaster gear, a pinion interposed between the drum and the adjacentlongitudinal bar of the frame, said pinion being mounted for rotationindependently of the master gear and meshing with the teeth on thedriving gear, a flexible medium forming a connection between the drumand a suitable support, and a handle having a squared socket adapted toengage the winding heads of the shafts for rotating the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC K. HOLLINGER.

Witnesses:

WM. J. NEFF, PERRY SNowDEN.

